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Feds consider endangered status for rare wildflower found in Boulder County

Rocky Mountain monkeyflower found only in seven locations in Colorado

By Laura Snider Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
09/03/2012 01:00:00 PM MDT

Rocky Mountain monkeyflower (Courtesy U.S. Forest Service)

Submitting comments

Public comments on the possible listing of the Rocky Mountain monkeyflower as an endangered species can be sent in writing to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R6-ES-2012-0052; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042--PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

Comments can be submitted electronically by going to regulations.gov and entering the docket number -- FWS-R6-ES-2012-0052 -- into the box that reads "Enter Keyword or ID."

Comments must be received by Oct. 29.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will spend the next year trying to determine whether a tiny wildflower that grows only in Colorado and only in seven known locations -- including in Boulder County -- should be listed as an endangered species.

The Rocky Mountain mokeyflower, which grows to be only about 4 inches high, is found in spruce, fir and aspen forests at high altitudes. The plants prefer cool, wet, seepy areas, often at the base of cliffs or on ledges.

But what really intrigues Taylor Jones, an endangered species advocate with Denver-based WildEarth Guardians, is the way the tiny plant reproduces.

"I'm fascinated by the fact that it has a really unique asexual reproduction that is not known in any other flowering plant," she said. "They create these little mini plants (known as propagules) on the bases of their leaves. Every year the adult plants will die and the little mini plants will shear away and get carried downstream and sometimes by the wind."

But the "mini plants" don't always find an appropriate place to root on their own, which may contribute to the difficulty the plant has had at maintaining its population levels.

And more oddly, the plant also can produce flowers for sexual reproduction, though they rarely do that in the wild. It's a mystery why the plant would have both sexual and asexual reproductive abilities.

In September 2011, WildEarth Guardians petitioned the federal government to consider protecting the Rocky Mountain monkeyflower under the Endangered Species Act. Last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife decided a more in-depth investigation into the plant's status is warranted.

Over the next year, the federal agency will do an analysis of the wildflower's circumstances to see whether it fits the guidelines for protection.

"We do not list a species just because it's rare," said Ellen Mayo, a botanist with the agency. "There does have to be an indication of substantial threat."

In making a decision, the agency will weigh whether the plant's habitat is in jeopardy, whether it's vulnerable to disease and whether or not there already are adequate measures in place to protect the plant, among other factors, Mayo said.

In the case of the Rocky Mountain monkeyflower, it appears that the plant may be especially at risk of being trampled.

"It grows in very cool, shady little stops along those really damp little places you like to go while you're hiking," Mayo said.

Populations of Rocky Mountain monkeyflowers have been found in five Colorado counties: Boulder, Clear Creek, Grand, Jefferson and Larimer.

Boulder County is home to the largest number of the plants -- more than 14,600, according to a study in 2005-06 -- and the little flowers are found between 10,121 feet and 10,259 feet on National Forest land in St. Vrain Canyon on the ledges on glacially carved cliffs.

"There's this pretty unique plant -- pretty much the only one of its kind that has this reproductive system -- and it's right in our backyard in the mountains," WildEarth Guardians' Jones said. "Endangered species aren't just off in the distant wilderness. They're right there. They could be right by your favorite trail; they could be right under your foot if you're not careful."

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